Patriots vs. Texans in clash of titans

Rich Garven TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Monday December 10, 2012 at 6:00 am

Updated Monday December 10, 2012 at 6:21 am

The talk in New England and Houston last week was all about downplaying tonight's highly hyped meeting between the Patriots and Texans at Gillette Stadium. Is it a big game? Sure, but not because the 9-3 Patriots and 11-1 Texans, both of whom have already secured their postseason reservations, are jockeying for seeding placement and trying to send a message to the other.

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson.

The talk in New England and Houston last week was all about downplaying tonight's highly hyped meeting between the Patriots and Texans at Gillette Stadium.

Is it a big game? Sure, but not because the 9-3 Patriots and 11-1 Texans, both of whom have already secured their postseason reservations, are jockeying for seeding placement and trying to send a message to the other.

No, it's a big game because they all are at this time of the year for contending clubs.

“Once we get into December the games become more and more important,” cornerback Devin McCourty said. “We just have to go out there and play while also realizing this game doesn't decide anything. It's a regular-season game for both teams.”

Houston, do you copy?

“We're going to play in a lot of big games and coming into New England, obviously that's a big, big game,” said seventh-year coach Gary Kubiak, whose Texans are 21-7 since the start of last season. “We're really trying just to stay focused on our football, trying to improve.”

Refreshingly, not everyone toed the party line. One player laid it out for what it is.

“It's big,” said Andre Johnson, the Texans' four-time All-Pro receiver. “You know how big it is — biggest game in the history of this franchise. It'll be a big test for us and we'll be ready to go.”

This game really is important, and to both teams.

The Patriots have been to five Super Bowls under coach Bill Belichick, but they've never gotten there as a three seed or lower. Lose tonight and they have little chance of wrestling the No. 1 seed away from Houston and the odds greatly diminish for beating out Baltimore or Denver for the No. 2 slot.

The Texans entered Week 14 tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the best record in football and the only team that's undefeated on the road (6-0), having won at Denver and Chicago. They're ranked second in the league in points scored (29.3) and fourth in points allowed (18.4).

Still, there are plenty of doubters outside Houston. They point to the Texans being pushed to overtime by the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars and dysfunctional Detroit Lions in consecutive games last month and losing to the Green Bay Packers by 18 points at home in a nationally televised contest in mid-October.

Beating the Patriots here would be a signature win, one that sends a definite warning shot to the rest of the NFL.

This one has all the makings of a high-scoring affair, starting with the fact that Tom Brady & Co. have historically bounced back in a big way after turning in a subpar performance, as was the case last Sunday in Miami. The Texans have what it takes to keep up in a point-a-palozza.

All-Pro running back Arian Foster has rushed for an AFC-leading 1,102 yards and is a terrific complement to Johnson, who has 74 receptions for 1,114 yards. Tight end Owen Daniels has 50 catches, six for touchdowns, but sidekick Garrett Graham (25, 3) was ruled out yesterday with a concussion.

That's a major blow for the Texans. They've used two tight ends a league-high 84.1 percent of the time, but — unbelievably — only have two on their 53-man roster, leaving them one short with Graham's absence.

Rookie Logan Brock is on the practice squad and could be activated for what would be his professional debut.

As for quarterback, Matt Schaub is 15-1 (.938) in his last 16 starts and been sacked a league-low tying 15 times despite ranking 14th in pass attempts. Credit there goes to a line anchored by left tackle Duane Brown, a second-team All-Pro selection last year who currently might be the best player in the league at his position.

“He's one of the best guys we've faced,” Belichick said. “I don't think he's really given up anything all year in the passing game. He's a good run blocker, he's good at the point of attack and he's quick and he does a good job on the backside cutoff blocks as well.”

Eighth-year center Chris Myers is having a Pro Bowl-worthy season, but the Texans will be without right tackle Derek Newton (knee) and will be starting a rookie, Ben Jones, at right guard.

The Patriots will counter with a defense that has shown improvement as of late. It's also come against some of the worst offenses in the league.

The Patriots have beaten the Jets (29th) twice along with the Rams (25th), Bills (17th), Colts (3rd) and Dolphins (28th) during their six-game winning streak. The Texans will be their biggest test since facing Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Week 5.

It's one they're likely to get a failing grade against. Fortunately for the Patriots, the Texans fare even worse against Brady.